Curved base tent

ABSTRACT

A tent includes a shell and a frame for supporting the shell and including a base pole for at least partially defining a base of the tent. The base is at least partially curved and the base pole includes a curved section for defining a curved section of the base. The shell includes a sleeve having a selectively openable end for receiving the base pole.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to tents, and more particularlyto collapsible tents having base poles.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

It is known to provide a tent having a base pole that forms a round orcurved base of the tent. However, many prior art tents with a round orcurved base pole are “self-erecting”, such as U.S. Pat. No. Re. 35,571,U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,672,323 and 5,601,105. Such tents are easy to erectbecause, typically, the frames are made of one or more continuous curvedloops of steel wire or the like. These loops enable the tent frame toautomatically spring open when released and be easily folded to collapsethe tent. Thus, the tent frame is made up of loops, not conventionalpoles separate from the shell and that typically require assembly of thepole, passing the pole through sleeves or hooking the pole to the tentshell. Among other drawbacks with such self-erecting tents, they aresize limited, meaning they have very limited interior space.

There are also other more conventional tents with a curved base pole,such as those shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,450,187 and 5,842,495. However,such tents are not easy to assemble and/or are overly complicated intheir construction. Thus, there is a need for an easy to assemble,simple tent that has the advantages of curved or round base tents.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, one aspect of the invention is a tent comprising a shelland a frame for supporting the shell and including a base pole for atleast partially defining a base of the tent. The base is at leastpartially curved and the base pole includes a curved section fordefining a curved section of the base. The shell includes a sleevehaving a selectively openable end for receiving the base pole.

In another aspect, the frame includes at least two base poles fordefining at least a portion of a base of the tent. The shell includes atleast two sleeves spaced from one another to facilitate assembly, eachsleeve having a selectively openable end for receiving one of the basepoles.

Various refinements exist of the features noted in relation to theabove-mentioned aspects of the present invention. Further features mayalso be incorporated in the above-mentioned aspects of the presentinvention as well. These refinements and additional features may existindividually or in any combination. For instance, various featuresdiscussed below in relation to any of the illustrated embodiments of thepresent invention may be incorporated into any of the above-describedaspects of the present invention, alone or in any combination.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front perspective of a tent of one embodiment of theinvention;

FIG. 1A is an enlarged portion of the tent of FIG. 1 showing an end of abase pole;

FIG. 2 is a front perspective of only the frame of the tent of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a front perspective of a tent of another embodiment of theinvention; and

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the frame of the tent of FIG. 3.

Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding partsthroughout the drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to FIGS. 1-2, a tent of one embodiment is designated in itsentirety by the reference numeral 11. A flexible fabric shell generallydesignated 13 may include a door 23 and mesh windows 24. The shell 13may be suitably supported by a collapsible frame 15 (best shown in FIG.2) including four resilient poles 17 that form an upper portion of theframe. In this embodiment, each pole 17 is resilient and bent into anarched configuration when erected, though the poles may also be formedin the arched shape. Each pole may be collapsible, e.g., conventionallyconstructed of several sections joined together by elastic cord, eachsection including suitable means at one end for receiving an end of theadjacent section. Pairs of the poles 17 extend over each side of thetent 11, and the pair generally share endpoints (FIG. 1A). The upperportion of the frame 15 may also include brow or auxiliary poles 18,similar to poles 17 but shorter. The poles 17, 18 are suitably securedto the shell 13, as by being positioned in sleeves 19, and/or secured byhooks 21 that are attached to the shell. Many other configurations,types and numbers of poles, and other types of connectors for securingthe poles to the shell 13 are contemplated within the scope of theinvention. Note the scope of the invention does not includeself-erecting tents. Accordingly, the poles are not made of spring steelor similar wire, and the poles must be attached to the shell duringassembly. The poles are suitably collapsible poles made of fiberglass,aluminum, composites or the like.

A base 33 of the tent 11 is at least partially curved. In thisembodiment, the base 33 has an oval shape, though many other shapes arecontemplated. The frame 15 of this embodiment includes two base poles 31for at least partially defining the base 33 of the tent. Each of thebase poles 31 extends around a curved portion of the base 33, e.g.,around the right and left sides of the tent 11 (as viewed. Base poles 31of this embodiment do not extend around the entire base 33, e.g., theyextend around 40% to 80% of the base. The front and back sections of theshell 13 have no base pole. Thus, the base poles 31 are spaced from oneanother. However, base poles 31 of other embodiments of the inventionmay extend around more of the base 33. Also, other embodiments may haveany number of base poles 31, including only one.

Upon assembly with the shell 13, each base pole 31 includes at least onecurved section, e.g., a curved section fitting the curve of the shell.Each base pole 31 may be made up of separate pole sections (not shown,suitably similar to poles 17 described above). Each pole section may bestraight or curved when not joined to the shell 13. In one embodiment,the sections are straight and the pole 31 is sufficiently flexible tobend in its curved section to fit the curve defined by the shell 13, thepole bending as it is attached to the shell 13.

In this embodiment, base sleeves 35 are attached to the base of theshell 13 at each side thereof for receiving the base poles 31. One end37 of the sleeve is open to receive the pole 31, and the opposite end(not shown) of the sleeve is closed, e.g., by a permanent or a removableclosure, so that the opposite end is secured in the sleeve 35. A flap 39selectively covers or closes the open end of the sleeve 35 for securingthe pole in the sleeve. The flap may have a fastener section, e.g. aVELCRO™ patch, on its end for engaging a mating fastener section on theoutside of the sleeve. In other embodiments, a pocket (not shown) nearthe open end of the sleeve may receive one or both ends of the pole 31for securing the pole in the sleeve 35.

The base sleeves 35 are attached, as by sewing or other suitable means,to the floor of the shell 13 at the seam between the wall and the floor(the outside corner of the shell). The sleeves 35 lie between the groundand the floor of the shell and are thereby hidden from view, orsubstantially hidden from view, after the tent is assembled. Suchpositioning makes the tent more aesthetically pleasing while retainingthe benefits of a base pole. However, the base sleeves may alternativelybe located so as to be more visible, e.g., at the corner but attached tothe wall. Also, the base poles and sleeves could be located inside theshell at the corner so that neither can be seen from outside the livingspace of the tent. Further, the sleeves may be made integral with theshell, rather than being attached to the shell.

In one method of assembling the tent 11, the respective base poles 31are pushed or inserted into the respective sleeves 35 until the oppositeend of the pole engages the closed end of the sleeve. The free end issecured by closing the flap 39 over the end of the sleeve 35, or byinsertion in the pocket described above. In this embodiment, there isample space between the base poles 31 to facilitate easy assembly. Eachsleeve 35 and pole 31 may be sized so that the resilient pole must bebent into the curved shape in order to be inserted in the sleeve andsecured by the flap pocket 39, the pole thereby exerting an outwardforce against ends of the sleeve 35 and the flap or pocket when the tent11 is assembled. This force may assist in further stabilizing the tent.The upper portion of the frame 15 is then assembled, as by sliding thepoles 17, 18 through the sleeves 19. Alternatively, the upper portionmay be assembled prior to inserting the base poles 31 in the basesleeves 35. The tent may also be staked to the ground. Many othermethods of assembly are contemplated within the scope of this invention.Sleeves can be under the tent as shown or placed on the outer side ofthe corner so as to be visible. The sleeves may alternatively be sewn tothe inside of the shell so that the base pole(s) are installed frominside the shell. In this method, the poles would be passed into theliving space inside the shell 13 through the door 23, and thereafterinserted in the base sleeves.

Referring to FIGS. 3-4, a tent 11′ of another embodiment comprises acollapsible frame 15′ having a base frame including two semicircular(broadly, partially circular) shaped poles 31′, the centers of which areoffset from one another (FIG. 4). The base poles may be secured to ashell 13′ of the tent by sleeves, or other suitable means. In oneembodiment, open ends of the sleeves are at the outermost sections ofthe tent to facilitate easier assembly. The shell of this embodimentincludes two alcoves 45′ as shown, one or both of which may include astorage receptacle 47′. Such receptacle may be similar to that shown inU.S. Pat. No. 6,450,186, which is incorporated herein by reference. Thisembodiment includes three U-shaped poles 49′, the central pole includingextensions 51′ for supporting the alcoves. The poles may be made up ofseparate sections as described above. A door 23′ of the shell may alsoinclude an awning 53′ as shown. The tent 11′ may be assembled usingmethods similar to those discussed above.

As will be understood, the tents 11, 11′ are only two embodiments ofmany possible embodiments of the invention. Embodiments of the inventionare advantageous because they enable more interior room due to morevertical walls. The curved base can also increase usable floor space andeliminate sharp corners that reduce usable space in the tent.Embodiments of the invention are advantageous as compared to the priorart because they enable easier, quicker assembly and disassembly of thetent. These embodiments are also simpler constructions than those of theprior art. At the same time, the base pole(s) typically make the tentmore stable. The stability is due at least in part to tension in thebase poles.

When introducing elements of the present invention or the preferredembodiments(s) thereof, the articles “a”, “an”, “the” and “said” areintended to mean that there are one or more of the elements. The terms“comprising”, “including” and “having” are intended to be inclusive andmean that there may be additional elements other than the listedelements.

As various changes could be made in the above constructions, products,and methods without departing from the scope of the invention, it isintended that all matter contained in the above description and shown inthe accompanying drawing[s] shall be interpreted as illustrative and notin a limiting sense.

1. A tent comprising: a shell; a frame for supporting the shell andincluding a base pole for at least partially defining a base of thetent; the base being at least partially curved; the base pole includinga curved section for defining a curved section of the base; and theshell including a sleeve having a selectively openable end for receivingthe base pole.
 2. The tent of claim 1 wherein there are at least twobase poles and at least two sleeves for receiving the at least two basepoles.
 3. The tent of claim 4 wherein the at least two sleeves arespaced from one another to facilitate easy insertion of each base polein each sleeve.
 4. The tent of claim 1 wherein the base is at leastpartially circular and includes at least two base poles.
 5. The tent ofclaim 4 wherein the at least two base poles are partially circular,centers of the base poles being offset from one another.
 6. The tent ofclaim 5 wherein the frame includes an upper frame and a base frame. 7.The tent of claim 1 wherein the base is oval-shaped.
 8. The tent ofclaim 1 wherein the frame is not self-erecting.
 9. The tent of claim 8wherein the frame includes poles made substantially of fiberglass oraluminum.
 10. The tent of claim 1 wherein the frame further includes atleast two arched poles for supporting the frame.
 11. The tent of claim 1wherein an end opposite the closed end of each sleeve is permanentlyclosed.
 12. The tent of claim 1 wherein the base poles are spaced fromone another such that the base poles only define a portion of the baseof the tent.
 13. A tent comprising: a shell; a frame securable to theshell for supporting the shell; the frame including at least two basepoles for defining at least a portion of a base of the tent; the base ofthe tent being at least partially curved, each base pole including acurved section for defining a curved section of the base; the shellincluding at least two sleeves spaced from one another to facilitateassembly, each sleeve having a selectively openable end for receivingone of the base poles.
 14. The tent of claim 13 wherein the tent is notself-erecting.
 15. The tent of claim 14 wherein at least a portion ofthe base has no base pole therein to further facilitate assembly of thetent.